Overture Magazine - 2015-2016 Season March-April 2016 | Page 10
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Porgy and Bess bridges theatrical
and operatic genres. What does
the piece mean to you?
I’m not sure how eloquent I can be about
this because I feel so emotional about it.
I don’t think there’s anyone in musical
theater or opera who doesn’t bow to Porgy
and Bess. Not everybody in opera bows
to many things that come out of musical
theater. The Gershwins and DuBose
Heyward found a way for Porgy to sit in
the canon in a unique place. That’s why I
was so overjoyed when Marin and the BSO
asked me to come and play with this.
The music in Porgy gets under
your skin.
There probably isn’t anyone, from the
moment “Summertime” begins, who can’t
react to that.
Bowing down
to
Porgy
Director Kwame Kwei-Armah holds the
American classic in high esteem
by Martha Thomas
K
wame Kwei-Armah, a British-born playwright, director,
actor and broadcaster, is artistic director of Center Stage,
where he made his directing debut with Naomi Wallace’s
Things of Dry Hours. Mr. Kwei-Armah became the first
black Briton to have a play produced in London’s West End
with Elmina’s Kitchen, which subsequently had its American debut
at Center Stage. Mr. Kwei-Armah will direct the BSO production
of Porgy and Bess in April.
8 O v ertur e |
www. bsomusic .org
Have you worked on it before?
I auditioned for the ensemble of Simon
Rattle’s Glyndebourne production, but I
didn’t get it. However, I went to the performance and it was glorious and I’ve been
in love with it ever since. Now it’s come
back to me.
I didn’t realize you sing.
Yes, but evidently not well enough.
I actually started my career as a singer
and musician, and graduated into
acting and then writing and directing.
I had just finished understudying Don
Jose in Carmen, my second job out of
college. Then I auditioned for the Porgy
ensemble. I think rather correctly they
didn’t give me the role.
Is there a part you would
have been suited for?
Sportin’ Life is the character. That’s the
one. Although then, I was just hoping I’d
get a cover.
Do you think directing on stage with
an orchestra will be a challenge?
I saw Candide at the BSO. I so loved this
hybrid. If you do Porgy as a theatrical
production, the orchestra is in the pit. But